DALLAS, TX – Mervin Jose Yamarte Fernandez, a hard-working Venezuelan immigrant who held a job at a Dallas tortilla factory, had dreams of returning home to reunite with his six-year-old daughter. But that dream was shattered when he became one of hundreds of Venezuelans deported last month to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT mega-prison under a controversial Trump administration policy.
His mother, Mercedes Yamarte, told media.
“I would trade places with my son so that he wouldn’t have to go through this… Honestly, I would.”
Deported Without Trial Under the Alien Enemies Act
The Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act to justify the deportation of over 200 alleged Venezuelan gang members. U.S. officials claimed the gang Tren de Aragua represents a “hybrid criminal state” invading the country.
But Mercedes Yamarte insists her son is not involved in any gang activity.
“My son is a hard-working boy. He likes sports. As a mother, I know [Trump] is wrong,” she said in Spanish. “We can’t deny there are bad people, but there are good ones, too. They’re putting people there without a trial, without investigating whether they’re guilty or not.”
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A Legal Black Hole: No Charges, No Answers
The Venezuelan government assigned Mercedes an attorney for her son — but so far, the lawyer has been unable to help.
“We don’t know what the charges are,” she said. “It’s been 24 days, and we still don’t know what condition he’s in. It is hard to be unfairly accused of something.”
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson declined to comment to media. However, an ICE official admitted that many of those deported have no criminal records in the U.S. The agency argued that this lack of data makes them more dangerous:
“The lack of specific information about each individual actually highlights the risk they pose,” the official stated.
CECOT Prison and the Photo No Mother Should See
Mercedes saw a photo of her son inside CECOT, a prison internationally condemned for alleged human rights abuses.
“When I saw that photo, his expression was pleading for help,” she said through tears. “I feel as if my hands and feet are tied. It’s cruel, and it’s hard.”
A Mother’s Message to Trump
In an emotional plea, Mercedes asked former President Donald Trump to consider the human cost of his policy:
“He should put his hand on his heart. He is a father… and this pain we feel — not just me, but all mothers, fathers, and families — it’s unbearable. Because the most cherished thing for all of us is our children.”
